The Guillotine

This 2002 American documentary, directed by Howard Engel, explores the invention and historical use of the guillotine as a humane execution device proposed by Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin during the French Revolution to replace slower, class-biased methods like the axe. The 50-minute film traces its development from 1791 prototypes by German engineer Tobias Schmidt to widespread adoption during the Reign of Terror, executing over 16,000 people including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette, and its continued use in France until 1977 for crimes like the murder of a policeman. It examines the machine's mechanics, societal impact on equality in death, and cultural legacy through archival footage, expert interviews with historians, and reenactments of executions, while discussing ethical debates on capital punishment and the guillotine's symbolism in literature and film.